Judgement day is looming for the proposed expansion plans for Gatwick and Heathrow airports.

In a finalised report expected to be published this Wednesday (July 1), the Whitehall-approved Airports Commission will detail which site it thinks should be expanded.

The report will recommend whether the Gatwick Airport plans or one of two runway schemes at Heathrow should be given the green light.

It comes as new artist's impressions of the proposed second runway at Gatwick have been released.

Architect Sir Terry Farrell said his designs for the airport on the West Sussex/Surrey border would eliminate queues, speed up passenger transit and crown Gatwick as "the world's most efficient two-runway airport".

Sir Terry added: "Our proposals for Gatwick are not just for another runway but an entirely new world-class airport for London and the UK. Heathrow cannot deliver that.

"Our vision for Gatwick is that it becomes the world's most efficient two-runway airport - flexible and responsive to meet the changing needs of passengers and airlines."

"We cannot see how any airport expansion can go forward"

While environmentalists are against airport expansion at either Heathrow or Gatwick, a number of Conservative MPs are opposed to an extra third runway being built at Heathrow.

Among them are London Mayor Boris Johnson, Richmond Park MP Zac Goldsmith and International Development Secretary Justine Greening, whose Putney constituency lies close to the airport.

Mr Goldsmith recently claimed more than a million people would be subjected to aircraft noise if a third runway was built at Heathrow.

A noise pollution map - published on a campaign website - suggested the noise footprint for the airport would stretch some 30 miles from Bracknell in the west to Rotherhithe in east London.

Heathrow, which claims it could reduce the number of people currently affected by noise even with a new runway, said the map was "inaccurate" and "unhelpful to local residents".

Anti-Gatwick campaigners previously handed a six-page statement to the Department for Transport, demanding a change to the policy on flight paths to help reduce aircraft noise for local residents.

Chairman of the Charlwood-based Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign (GACC), Brendon Sewill, said: “We cannot see how any airport expansion can go forward with the anger that is being vented at all airports operators due to the current airspace changes.

“All the protest groups coming together should send a clear message to the government that residents are fed up with being ignored and that they will not be disregarded.”

They suggested that Gatwick’s proposal for expansion had “nomentum”, having failed to gain support.

CAGNE chair, Sally Pavey, said: “Gatwick is running a glossy and disingenuous campaign for expansion. It’s spin and over-claim at every turn.

“They’ve got no political support, no business support and local people don’t want it."

Heathrow's sustainability and environment director, Matt Gorman, said: "While our airport is working at reducing noise levels overall around the airport, we know from our conversations with local residents that predictable periods of respite are extremely important.

"Allowing us to modernise our taxiway system would allow us to operate full runway alternation and in line with government policy spread noise more fairly, so that Windsor and other communities around the airport can receive respite."

Gatwick CEO, Stewart Wingate, said: “After decades of delay, it is decision time. Gatwick’s plans are a blueprint for another world-class airport for the UK and the only deliverable option to finally fix the capacity crunch.”

And Heathrow's CEO John Holland-Kaye said in a statement: “Heathrow expansion would create an economic legacy for future generations by connecting the whole country to global growth.

“The return on investment for the UK is phenomenal and our politicians can be confident in making a quick decision. Let’s get on with it.”

It is expected to be some months before the government responds fully to the recommendation by the commission, which is headed by former Financial Services Authority chief Sir Howard Davies.